Thought to post this here for you all. Its just little clips on the various stages of consciousness in man as he progresses or degresses in his spiritual walk. I found the book it comes from very interesting and it really helped me with some things. The book this is from is Putting on the Mind of Christ by Jim Marion

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Spiritual Evolution



Ken Wilbur, an American psychiatrist and Christian Mystic identifies a nine-stage process of consciousness/spiritual evolution. The information that follows comes from the book Putting on the Mind of Christ, by Jim Marion.

The early stages of conscious development are fairly accepted as accurate in the child development arena, and have been tested time and again in various experiments. And they match well with other suggested “soul progression maps” detailed by Mystics over the centuries.

Wilbur’s first level is known as the Archaic consciousness level. Affecting children from infancy to about the age of three, this stage is mainly physical, followed by an emotional part. For the infant, this first stage is all about sensation and impulse. The infant initially cannot distinguish itself from its mother. After about three months, the child finally realizes that it is separate from its mother physically. It take another year or so before the child can distinguish its emotions from its mother.

From a spiritual perspective, to think of the development of Stone Age people would be to see the Archaic level at work. Archeological evidence suggests that peoples of this age felt that they were apart of nature, not separate. And everything was done instinctively, based on sensory input.

The second level, the Magical level, is found in children from approximately age three to age seven. For anyone at this level, the world is full of magic and a polytheistic vision of the world (Gods, demons, fairies, etc.) rules. The child at this stage is able to learn right from wrong and gradually learns that its point of view of the world is not all that there is.

This stage is very similar to the level of consciousness of ancient polytheistic, animistic, tribal-organized people. At this level, the idea of self is a very important aspect of life. And the world is full of magic. Even today, some tribal peoples may be afraid to allow someone to take a picture of them or to learn their names so as not to give away their power to others.

The Mythical level is the third level of this map. This level is usually found in children from age seven to adolescence. The child can now distinguish itself from everything else but still holds the idea of many Gods (Santa, Easter Bunny, etc.). He or she no longer believes that he or she can do magic, but believe that God and other God-like entities can. This stage is a very “conforming” stage and the child does what its Gods (mom, dad, Santa) tell it. It is the law and order level.

The child at this stage begins to understand more abstract ideas, like understanding that the word “dog” refers to all dogs, not just the one pointed at. He or she also begins to see the world as very concrete. Everything is black and white and is taken very seriously. The child believes their parents are always corrects, as are teachers and others in authority positions. And the religion that they are exposed to (usually their parent’s religion) is the true and only religion.

For an adult found in this stage, theirs is the only true religion as well. Others who follow another religion can be seen as evil and doomed to spend the afterlife in hell unless they convert.

The fourth level on Ken Wilbur’s map that is being discussed is the Rational level. This is the dominant level of spirituality/consciousness found in the world today. (Think of the advances in sciences, government, the media, etc.). This level usually begins in adolescence and is marked by the ability to begin to think abstractly and to understand, at a deeper level, general statements (i.e. all men are created equal). But remember, as with any level, not every person will learn enough to move to the next level; some will move quickly from the Mythical level into a high level of the Rational; some will only move to a lower level of the Rational; some won’t move at all and will remain in the Mythic level.

A person who has reached the lower Rational consciousness/spirituality level, while able to think a bit abstractly, tends to more often think in clichés and has few original thoughts or insights. Those at the lower levels of this spirituality/conscious level haven’t yet developed the ability to think clearly enough to articulate what they want to express.

Those who move into the higher levels of the Rational are interested in abstract concepts and are open to, and are making an effort to, expand their minds and their consciousness/spirituality. At this level though, one can easily fall prey to ideology – one system of thinking at the exclusion of all others.

Finally, there are those who have mastered abstract thought and logic and move to the top of the Rational level. These individuals can begin to look at things from a global perspective and are creative because they can create original thoughts and ideas. Think of scientists and artists in today’s world and the creativity that comes from them.

While the Rational level of spirituality/consciousness dominates today’s world, its grasp is not total. Many adults in today’s world are only at the beginning of the Rational level or have yet to make it out of the Mythic level. Many fundamentalist religions, no matter the faith, are made up of individuals still in the Mythic level – holding onto their world view that their religion is the only true religion. Since they cannot grasp concepts beyond the Mythic level, they are stuck and will remain there, or at any level, unless they seek help.

The fifth level of consciousness/spirituality is known as the Vision-Logic level. A person who has developed to this level is incredibly creative and is a “great thinker”. Think of Einstein, Shakespeare, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Steven Hawking, etc. A person at this level can go beyond abstract thinking and reasoning and take in many different perspectives, integrate them and put them together in new and sometimes surprising ways.

For a person at this level of spirituality/consciousness, Ideology is no longer problem. Because of their ability to look at things globally, one no longer sees things from just one perspective – be it race, religion, sex, whatever – but can see from the perspective of one of six billion people on the planet. The Vision-Logic person is very tolerant of other religions, cultures and races and appreciates other perspectives and philosophies.

Because of the global perspective of the Vision-Logic level, and the fact that there are many at this level in high level positions in government, industry and academia, concepts of global thinking are becoming dominant. For those at most of the Rational level grades, this is acceptable and they can be led in this direction. For those at lower levels however, the idea of a global community is terrifying, and there is no way those at the Mythic level will go along with this approach without a fight. To those at this level, a global community is the work of the devil.
The next level after the Vision-Logic consciousness/spirituality level is the seventh level known as Psychic Consciousness. And this is the level where things really start to get interesting.

At this level an individual becomes aware of what some call the Permanent Self, the part of the self that is beyond our understanding of space/time. Others call this self the Witness, that part of the self beyond body, mind and emotions. Some Christians call this the “small still voice within” (Ps 46:10) because at this level, one gradually becomes aware of information that comes from beyond the five physical senses.

A person at this level may be open regularly to peak experiences often known as nature mysticism or cosmic consciousness. This is a similar experience as those referred to by Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson wrote about being able to connect to the “oversoul” within and, through that connection, connect to all of humanity.

The Psychic spirituality/consciousness level (also known as the astral level) exists in the fourth dimension. At this level, one begins to experience a knowingness that is not dependent on the five senses or in being near another person to “connect” with them.



These other senses that one may experience at this level are similar to those mentioned in the New Testament (Mark 2:8, Luke 5:22, Matt. 12:25 – perceiving information through Spirit): clairsentience (psychic sensing), clairvoyance (psychic seeing), clairaudience (psychic hearing) and others.



At the Psychic consciousness/spirituality level, one begins to become more interested with what happens “within” than “without”. The model of the Christian contemplative, one who spends time each day in meditation is a model to follow. One at this level becomes skilled at watching one’s self dispassionately from the “witness’s” point of view.



While this level offers one incredible access to information from the “universe” and it is exciting to enjoy the access, one must not forget the rest of the world and stay within. Because of the access, one is actually able to be more effective in every day affairs because of the larger view of the universe now has.



There are also dangers at this level that one must be aware of. There is extreme darkness and negativity that must be dealt with, so it is important, as mentioned by many mystics, to not work through this level without guidance.



The eighth level of spirituality/consciousness is known as the Subtle. For those familiar with St. John of the Cross and his writings, he calls this level the Dark Night of the Senses. The transition to this level is also known by some as the “transfiguration” or third spiritual initiation similar to Jesus’ transfiguration.

Once competent at the Psychic level, the spiritual seeker will begin to feel the subtle vibrations of the Subtle level. In the Christian tradition, these subtle vibrations are called “infused contemplation”. Those familiar with Yoga will recognize these vibrations as “kundalini. These subtle vibrations are very much moving toward the seeker, who is a passive participant. The energies felt are very warm, intelligent and dazzling.

While this level is called Subtle, the energy that one can access can be anything but. Many stories abound about those at this level who are overwhelmed by the amount of energy flowing through them. Stories about permanent damage to the nervous system and to nervous breakdowns are not uncommon. Again, it is imperative to work in this level with a teacher.

This level is called the Dark Night of the Senses because of the release of pains held onto throughout life. Part of what happens is a release of old psychic wounds from various painful event’s in one’s life as well as negativity that has been held onto. This negativity includes all of the associated ego-based neuroses as well as any fears that one may have. This dark time can be quite a challenge for the seeker because it is nearly non-stop and can last for months or even years. One must trust in “God” to survive, because survival will happen – eventually.

The final level, known as Causal, is also called the Dark Night of the Soul after St. John of the Cross’ definition. It is the “Baptism of Fire and the Holy Spirit” referred to by Christians in the New Testament. The transition from Subtle to Causal consciousness/spirituality is when one’s understanding and identification of one’s self as a distinct personality gives way to the realization of one’s divinity.

The death and rebirth of the Dark Night of the Soul is what separates those who think they are mere mortals from those who know they are divine and immortal. One enters the Dark Night thinking one is sinful, fallen and in need of salvation but exits understanding that one is, and always has been, sinless.

The Baptism of Fire and the Holy Spirit is necessary for four reasons. 1. Intellectually, no matter how much prayer and reading and meditating, one still don’t have a clue as to who one really are. One still sees God and others as still separate from one’s self. 2. One has to have a purification of emotions – The Baptism and Fire – before truly understanding who one is. 3. Purification of all incarnate personalities must occur. 4. In order to conduct redemptive work as Jesus/Yeshua did – transforming negative energy into positive – one’s consciousness/spirit must move beyond the boundaries of personality.

Okay Christine, Bernie, Sparrow - everyone? Can we get an 'amen' right here or what????

I printed it at work and didnt read it yet

I will read it ASAP